Panaji/New Delhi: Tehelka founder and editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a junior woman colleague in a five-star hotel earlier this month, was booked for rape by Goa Police. Tejpal promised “full cooperation” in the probe.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley demanded that Tejpal face a criminal trial.

The First Information Report was filed by the Goa Police Crime Branch officials under Sections 354 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deal, respectively, with criminal use of force on a woman and rape, a police official said in Panaji.

Tejpal, 50, was accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague twice in a hotel elevator during a high profile conference organised by the weekly magazine in Goa earlier this month.

“The Crime Branch is investigating the case. We are also in the process of sending a team to Delhi,” Goa Director-General of Police (DGP) Kishen Kumar said.

In a statement issued on Friday in Delhi, Tejpal said “serious allegations” have been levelled against him “and unfortunately, as sometimes happens in life, the complete truth and the need to do the honourable thing can come into conflict”.

“I offer my fullest cooperation to the police and all other authorities, and look to presenting all the facts of this incident to it,” Tejpal said, speaking of the matter for the first time since the allegations of sexual harassment were made public.

“I also urge the committee and the police to obtain, examine and release the CCTV footage so that the accurate version of events stand clearly revealed,” he said.

As pressure mounted on the magazine, known for its investigative brand of journalism, managing editor Shoma Chaudhary denied any cover-up of allegations or delay in taking action.

Speaking to journalists, she said: “I am in no way in opposition to the journalist and I acted according to what she asked of me within three days. This is hardly any cover-up.”

“It’s a misconception that there was a delay. I received a formal complaint only November 18, and took action as requested within three days. My response within those three days was to make sure all that she asked from me, and the institution, was addressed immediately,” she said.

Chaudhary said it was the victim’s prerogative to go to the police, and she could not do that unilaterally.

“Whether consensual or not, it was a grave transgression. So institutionally, one is not disputing her version,” the managing editor told reporters outside the Tehelka office in south Delhi.

The organisation has formed a committee presided over by Urvashi Butalia, eminent feminist and publisher, to look into the matter.

“There is no question of putting any pressure or defending anyone, there will be an investigation by the committee. My intent has always been to act correctly. It is indeed a difficult time for everyone of us,” Choudhury said.

Jaitley, Bharatiya Janata Party leader, who has also been a lawyer in the Supreme Court, asserted that both a departmental inquiry and the trial must go together.

In a post on Facebook, Jaitley said he had glanced at television debates on the serious charges against Tejpal.

“Regretfully, some participants provided an escape route for the accused. They argued that the victim has a freedom of choice whether to pursue her complaint before the in-house inquiry or pursue a criminal investigation,” he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday demanded action in the case of an alleged sexual assault of a journalist by Tehelka magazine editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, calling such incidents a “blot” on society.

“The incident is a matter of concern and an attack on the self respect of women. There should be action in the case and an example must be set,” Dikshit said.

She was interacting with journalists at the Indian Women Press Corps here.

Asked how state governments can ensure that Vishakha guidelines are implemented, Dikshit said: “We have to evolve a mechanism that ensures the guidelines of Supreme Court are implemented.”

The Supreme Court laid down the Vishakha guidelines in 1997 following the rape of a social worker in Rajasthan.

These guidelines are for employers dealing with complaints of sexual harassment/assault at the workplace, and stipulate formation of committees to dispose off complaints from victims.

Dikshit admitted that there is still a sense of insecurity among women and collective efforts are required to address the problem.

Tejpal allegedly sexually assaulted a colleague in a Goa hotel where Tehelka had organised its Think Fest earlier this month. The incident, which came to light on Wednesday night, led to Tejpal stepping down from his post for six months.